Current Affairs Quiz - April 2022

Notes:
Konkan Railway has recently completed 100 per cent electrification across the zone and it has set new benchmarks for sustainable development.
The Konkan Railway has completed the electrification work on its complete 741 km long route between Roha in Maharashtra and Thokur in Karnataka. The cost of this electrification project is Rs 1287 crore.

Notes:
Kaziranga National Park is a protected area in Assam, spread along the Brahmaputra River. The National Park has successfully completed 14th Rhino Census in 2022.
There was increase of 200 one-horned rhinoceros from the 2018 figures even though 400 deaths were recorded mainly due to natural causes. With 903 females, 750 males, juvenile category and calves, the total population of one-horned rhinos is 2,613.

Notes:
The Ministry of Environment, forest and climate change issued an order, exempting SDN1 and SDN2 genome edited plants from Rules 7-11 of the Environment Protect Act (EPA) for manufacture, use or import or export and storage of hazardous microorganisms or genetically engineered organisms or cells rules-1989.
The exemptions from the rules applicable on genetically modified or GM crops is expected to give a big boost to further research and development of genome-edited crops.

Notes:
The government has launched a new broadcast services website to ensure faster filing and processing of applications for broadcast licenses, permissions and registrations.
The ‘Broadcast Seva Portal’ will help satellite TV channels, teleport operators, MSOs, community radio stations (CRS) and private FM channels. It is also used for tracking applications, calculating fees and making payments.

Notes:
The first day of the lunisolar calendar’s month of Chaitra is celebrated as Gudi Padwa. It is predominantly celebrated in the state of Maharashtra.
The same day is celebrated as Ugadi (Yugadi) in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka. It is also celebrated as ‘Chaitra Navratri’ in some other parts of the country.

Notes:
The Union Culture ministry launched a new portal named Temple 360, through which devotees can perform online rituals of prominent pilgrimage sites.
Live camera feeds across temples of India will be made available on the website. At present, live streaming of rituals from four temples: Somnath (Gujarat), Kashi Vishwanath (UP), Trimbakeshwar and Ghrishneshwar (both in Maharashtra) can be viewed on the portal.

Notes:
Afghanistan is the the world’s biggest opium producer, at present. Recently, the Taliban announced a ban on the cultivation of poppy in Afghanistan.
The production, use or transportation of other narcotics was also banned. As per the United Nations estimates, Afghanistan’s opium production was worth USD 1.4 billion in 2017. It has been continuously increasing in recent months.

Notes:
The Indian government appointed senior Indian Foreign Service officer Vinay Mohan Kwatra as the new Foreign Secretary.
The 1988-batch IFS officer is currently serving as Ambassador in Kathmandu since January 2020. He worked in Prime Minister’s Office from 2015 to 2017 and had served as India’s ambassador to France. Vinay Kwatra will replace the incumbent Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla.

Notes:
Manila-based Asian Development Bank recently released its flagship Asian Development Outlook (ADO) 2022.
It projected South Asia’s largest economy India to grow by 7.5 per cent in the current fiscal year (2022-23) and by eight per cent the next year (2023-24). It also estimated a seven per cent collective growth for South Asian economies in 2022. South Asia comprises Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.

Notes:
The World Bank released the April 2022 update ‘Braving the Storms: East Asia and Pacific Economic Update’.
As per the report, there are three risks for the region:  financial tightening in the U.S., structural slowdown in China, and the war in Ukraine. The April 2022 issue of the report suggests bold reforms to avert the risks and grasp the opportunities.